Malaysia's 'gay' parade: free biryani to men in V-necks

Kuala Lumpur: Two ethnic Indians in Malaysia are offering free 'biryani' meals to the first 15 men who walk into their restaurant in V-necks and sling bags, after a parenting seminar created quite a stir by citing such a dressing among indications of homosexuality.

The seminar held last week listed out a set of guidelines for parents and teachers to help them spot signs of homosexuality in children.

Reuters

The guidelines included tendencies of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders, which it said could be spotted among boys wearing tight-fitting V-neck T-shirts and carrying large sling bags, and girls who enjoyed the company of their own gender.

The seminar left some people bewildered and others amused. "When the guidelines came out, we thought it was ridiculous," said Herukh and Kubhaer Jeswant who run the 'Fierce Curry House'.

"Instead of joining in the fray to condemn it, we thought it would be an interesting concept to give out free biryani meals to the first 15 men who walk in with a V-neck and a man-bag".

Herukh then publicised his offer on Facebook. What started off as a pub conversation quickly set the siblings to add some fun to their business and celebrate the diversity of their patrons.

By midday yesterday, the brothers had to extend their promotion to another 10 customers after receiving a roaring response. Kubhaer said even women walked in with V-neck T-shirts and man-bags but they were disappointed because the offer was only for men.

Yayasan Guru Malaysia Bhd and the Putrajaya Consultative Council of Parents and Teachers Associations, who organised the parenting seminar in Penang, had distributed the alleged guidelines to participants on Thursday.

The Education Ministry has since denied it had endorsed the guidelines although it views cases of social ills in the community seriously, the Star newspaper said. Same-sex relationship and marriage are prohibited in Islam.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has 60 percent Malays and 25 percent ethnic Chinese who are mostly Christians or Buddhists and eight percent ethnic Indians who are mostly Hindus.